Stunning Wallabies win finally breaks hoodoo
By David Beniuk, 5 Sep 2010 David Beniuk is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- David Pocock, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Rugby Union, South Africa, Springboks, wallabies
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An 80th minute, 49m penalty goal from Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale has given Australia an amazing 41-39 victory over the Springboks, their first at altitude in South Africa in 47 years.
In perhaps one of the greatest Test matches ever played, which the Wallabies led by a huge margin for the second straight week, Beale turned from villain to hero after two glaring errors had almost cost his side victory.
The Wallabies led 31-6 after 25 minutes and 31-13 after a stellar first half before threatening to implode again in a poor second half.
When Beale threw a pass over the head of five-eighth Quade Cooper near his own goal line and it went dead, the Boks scored off the ensuing scrum to make it 31-30 after 54 minutes.
And when Morne Steyn banged over two 48m penalty goals to make it 36-31, it looked like deja vu for the Australians after last week’s capitulation in Pretoria.
But, with Saia Faingaa in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, a Drew Mitchell try in the 72nd minute gave the Wallabies hope leading 38-36.
Another Steyn penalty goal in the 77th minute, after Beale had slipped and headbutted a pass from Cooper, made it 39-38 to the Boks.
Australian hopes looked dead until Beale stepped up in the final minute with the most difficult of kicks, 49m out and just 10m in from touch.
He nailed it, the crowd of 38,523 went silent and the Australians berserk as they celebrated one of the greatest victories in their history.
Australia last won on the South African highveld in 1963 in Johannesburg and had not one in Bloemfontein since 1933.
It was just their second win in the Republic in a decade and they retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate, while consigning the Boks to last place in the Tri-Nations.
Australia scored five tries to three, with Steyn booting six penalty goals in all.
The start mightn’t have been as spectacular as last week’s with Matt Giteau knocking over a penalty goal in the second minute and Steyn replying four minutes later.
But it was about to get a whole more interesting.
First a Cooper cut-out put Adam Ashley-Cooper into space and Beale finished a classy backline movement of more than 50m.
It was 17-3 after 14 minutes when Cooper picked up the scraps of a Boks defensive lineout gone wrong and sent James O’Connor over.
Obviously still confident, South Africa opted to narrow it to 17-6 with an 18th minute penalty goal and they missed a golden opportunity a minute later when Juan Smith dropped a ball cold in great attacking position.
Australia went out to a 24-6 lead when Stephen Moore burrowed over and, when an electrifying O’Connor run sent Rocky Elsom on a 20m run to the line, the Bloemfontein crowd were left shaking their heads.
It took a remarkable effort from champion lock Victor Matfield on the stroke of halftime to give the home side some hope to cling to, the big man chipping and regathering on the full before sending Jaque Fourie over with a brilliant pass.
The Boks narrowed it to 31-20 six minutes after the break when prop Gurthro Steenkamp crashed over and was awarded a try by TMO Johann Meuwesen.
Australia were under the pump for a second straight week and their errors were mounting.
After de Villiers’ try, the Boks took the lead for the first time in the match with Steyn’s 61st minute penalty goal.
The best, though, was still to come.
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John P said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:20am | Report comment
Breathtaking, this is the catalyst that the team needed to turn the corner experience wise. This is the sort of tight game win that every champion team needs, and away from home. I CANNOT wait for next week and the end of year tour. These guys are coming along faster than any other tri nations team, the Boks may even be going backwards!
cinematic said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:40am | Report comment
Yep no doubt about it.
A second win in I don’t know how many games from a fluke penalty from miles out, in a dead rubber, after yet another second half implosion, against a Bok side that is clearly past it’s use by, and playing its third game in three weeks, show’s the Wallabies are now world beaters.
Or maybe not.
Scotty said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:48am | Report comment
Those grapes must be terribly sour. Or are you from one of those countries that have won the RWC just the once then, or ven (perish the thought!) not at all?
Whats a dead rubber then? You must be from South Africa, Australia, or NZ if you think there are dead rubbers. Next thing you will be saying is rugby has “freindlys” – then we know you are from a chavball country.
cinematic said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:17am | Report comment
What’s my origin got to do with the post?
I simply laid out the facts, you may like to dispute the ‘fluke factor’ in Beale’s kick. Though hard to avoid it had a decent dose of it.
It sets up Sydney very nicely (although the travel factor will be huge). Ten in a row?
Scotty said | September 5th 2010 @ 5:14am | Report comment
I didn’t see the game, why was the penalty a fluke? Did a stray pigeon nudge it between the posts? And as for the dead rubber – surely you know there is no such thing bewteen the top 3 teams in the world?
No they are clearly not world beaters, but then again who is? NZ? Well we will see come 2011 won’t we? Though truth be told I think NZ WILL win the RWC to join SA and AUS on 2 wins. However any team can only beat who is put in front of them, and today they beat the boks at altitude.
El Gamba said | September 5th 2010 @ 10:32am | Report comment
ANd not a dead rubber. The Nelson Mandela plate was decided. Not the tri-nations and not the bledisloe true, a cup for the winner of two of the best three countries in a test series still has some meaning.
Hoy said | September 5th 2010 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Was it any more flukey that Frans Steyn’s two to beat Australia over there a few years ago? They obviously weren’t too flukey.
TahDan said | September 5th 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
How was it a dead rubber?
cinematic said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
Funny, I thought it was called the Tri-Nations? Hasn’t a team out there already won that tournament?
Frankly the 3N’s is a distant second to the Bledisloe. But wait a sec the Wallabies and the Boks don’t contest that do they?
Nelson Mandela Plate? Give me a break. Maybe it’ll mean something in 50 years.
The Bok’s couldn’t give a hoot about the Mandela plate, and played like it.
Cattledog said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
Get back to the theatre, mate. Your comments are rubbish and add nothing to the debate.
TahDan said | September 5th 2010 @ 6:40pm | Report comment
Yeah, they clearly didn’t give a crap about beating Australia, which is why they fought their arses off to scrape back to a winning lead which almost won them the match.
I don’t know where you’re from, but I can tell you that the Wallabies and boks aren’t the most chummy of sides, so winning the 3 test series against them DOES matter. It certainly mattered to the boks, who will now finish LAST as a result of this and have a record of 1 win in the entire Tri Nations.
bennalong said | September 5th 2010 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
derkherd!
warrennz said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
spot on bennalong
Gerald Henry said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:27am | Report comment
To me, the negative turning point came when the Wallabies chose to scrum (rather than kick the 3 point penalty) when ahead 31 – 6 just before half time. This team needs to be less cocky. They over celebrate when they score and they get over confident when they’re ahead (as per the example above). That’s the difference between the current All Blacks and the rest right now. They are keeping calm level heads when ahead and when they’re behind. With that said, the win was fantastic and it was very sweet to see the Springboks go down.
Tim. said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:11am | Report comment
I disagree. I was watching the first half tries and I noted mentally that the try celebrations from the Wallabies seemed muted. This gave me confidence which proved to be unfounded as we collapsed in the 2nd half.
stillmissit said | September 5th 2010 @ 9:00am | Report comment
Gerald H – I agree but there were several negative bits that killed the second half. Cockiness? or lack of respect for the game and the position. NZ would have taken the penalty kick at that time in the game. It was dumb.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | September 5th 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Totally disagree, the boks by that stage were a starting to look like a rabble…if the Wallabies had scored a try at that stage it would have been game over. Good sides go for the throat….the Wallabies have yet to learn how to finish sides off.
Tragic said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
Agreed totally. Putting one’s opponent to the sword, etc
If anything it indicated that they were fearful of the possibility of what occurred the week before (which, funnily enough, did), and thus showed the utmost respect. You also have to factor in that a rest during the penalty would have played into the Saffas hands
Moaman said | September 5th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I’d like to think that NZ would have taken the scrum option too with a 25 point lead ffs! The only difference being the ABs would/could/should have total faith in their ability to win the scrum!And not collapse it.
jokerman said | September 5th 2010 @ 11:07am | Report comment
So right. At that moment I thought they should have taken the 3. Especially one minute latter they go offered another penalty and took the scrum. 3 points would have calmed the game down a bit. 3 or so minutes latter the boks scored. How can Tim say ‘I disagree’ ??
Wally James said | September 5th 2010 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Well said. If the wallabies had lost that game the time in the match to which you refer would have been the turning point. That there was a win was fabulous but the manner in which it was achieved was flaky.
Wallaby attack against an aging unfit Bokke was good. The mind shift to defence and tactical nouse is sometimes lacking. If they can get that right they will be very hard to beat. Let’s see how they mature on the northern tour. But in the meantime, if they play like that against NZ they will be eaten alive – again.
jeznez said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Not with you GH, I was in the pub screaming at Rocky to take the scrum option. Just a shame that young James over extended on the hit and Slipped when tried to come forward. I’m a gold eyed monster but reckon it should have been a reset rather than a penalty, he definitely didn’t collapse it on purpose.
GT75 said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:35am | Report comment
What a game!!! Go the Wallabies, completely had the boks in the first half, then the mistakes come along, but managed to contain them enough. Thought the boks had them, then Kurtly Beale with the winning goal. Congratulations Wallabies. Game of the year!!! Wallabies were hitting them hard in first half, the boys looked awesome. Well done South Africa thought almost done it, well done to Deans as well. Completely entertained, wish I was there.
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jeremy said | September 5th 2010 @ 7:46am | Report comment
Hmmm…I have to say with ten minutes to go I thought it was all over and the Wallabies would fail…to prevail at the end is fantastic.
However as has been said above and will no doubt be repeated ad infinitum the Wallabies and fans can enjoy this win but must address the holes in the performance. Not defending a 25-point lead is a massive liability.
Congrats on an historic win.
Frank O'Keeffe said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:37am | Report comment
Wow I’ve finally come down from that win. A few thoughts…
- The Wallabies quality of play in those first 30 minutes was amazing. It was the best rugby I’ve seen them play in ages. The great thing about those first 30 minutes was how they capitolised on all those line-breaks by finding support players.
- When I see how well the Wallabies played early on, I wonder if maybe Robbie Deans is actually doing good things with the side… the side just isn’t putting it together often enough. There was structure, shape, and execution in that first half.
- The kicking from the Wallabies in that first half was amazing. For three years I’ve criticised them for their pointless kicking, but Cooper’s kicking was good. His grubbers into the corners worked well, and he kicked for territory at the right times. See what Australian’s don’t get is that kind of kicking allows you to play running rugby – it gives you a good platform.
- One of those tries was amazing. James O’Connor knows how to find his support when he makes a break too…
- David Pocock is my favourite player. I think he’s been the Wallabies best Test player this year. But anytime he does something right Greg Martin goes over the top… just let him play rugby.
- When Pocock picked up the ball from an offside position, right in front of Wayne Barnes’ nose, in the 41st minute, I thought to myself… maybe he could be the next Richie McCaw.
- I felt a queasy feeling when Matfield set-up that try. There was nobody in front of the ruck to defend him, and it felt like the Wallabies were switching off.
- There’s absolutely no way the Wallabies should have let South Africa back in. They need to stop doing that to sides.
- Cooper… he’s brilliant… and then he misses tackles… and then he’s brilliant… and then he missed tackles.
- Schalk Burger was amazing. He just wants to run into everybody all day long no matter the score.
- John Smit and Victor Matfield have been more involved in these last two games.
- I thought the Wallabies would lose when they gave up their lead. They had no momentum and things weren’t going their way. They looked anxious. They basically set themselves up for the most heartbreaking loss ever.
- When Cooper set-up Mitchell for that try I went through the roof. I saw three players converge on him and thought, ‘I’ve seen this in the Super 14, he’s about to set-up Ioane.’
- If the game ended with Steyn’s penalty I couldn’t envisage a more heartbreaking script. First the Wallabies have a lead. They lose all momentum. They lose their lead. They somehow get a try against the flow of play… and then it’s lost by Beale slipping over and the ball hitting his head! It smacked of choking.
- Beale’s penalty was incredible. He was so cool about it.
- I sincerely think that’s the most important win the Wallabies have had in a very long time. They’ve been so erratic for three years. Three years of leading at halftime and then switching-off. They’ve lost so many close games they should have shut-out. The Wallabies also have problems with leadership I think… and they lack composure in close instances. They set themselves up for the ultimate choke, their most painful loss, and escaped from it.
There was absolutely no luck in Beale’s penalty-kick. He stepped-up. The Wallabies won a tight game.
Cattledog said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:56am | Report comment
Frank, loved reading your earlier posts (on the blog by that bloke eating humble pie). You really do wear your heart on your sleeve. Great to see. Then there’s this post, with a little more perspective. It was a game of two halves, absolutely. I also posted earlier that although we can celebrate a Wallaby victory, and without being too negative, I think the Boks actually lost that game rather than Australia won it.
Now, before all and sundry fly down my throat, think about the sin binning of Fiangaa. It was here the Boks should have really capitalised and put Australia totally to the sword. Did they? No, not really. By the same token, the Wallabies, for the first time in a while, dug deeper than they have over the past couple of seasons.
Also, if you want to close out a match with a couple of minutes to go, don’t do it in your half!! What stupidity was that?? Anyway, next week is the acid test. Not only must they win in Sydney, but they need to consolidate with another win in HK. THEN and only then can we really believe Australia is on track.
Yes, there is a fair way to go and that last comment may be a bit harsh. However, let’s not see the Wallabies rejoice to any great extent until they come home strongly against the No 1 team in world rankings at present.
However, Frank, it was a good win and they showed great determination in the long run. Enjoy the moment and let’s hope we see a repeat performance next week.
Frank O'Keeffe said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:04am | Report comment
Yeah the Wallabies still need a ‘Cornelson’ Test against New Zealand – a game where they break all hoodoos and prove to themselves they’re as good as anybody. They played beautiful rugby at times today… now they need to do it for 80 minutes (which they haven’t done since forever).
It was AWESOME though, watching the Wallabies win at altitude – the first since since ’63. Jim Boyce should congratulate them or something. And to do it when they were in a position where they should have lost, it’s incredible. I mean SA had that game won in the 78th minute.
I agree SA started slowing the ball down too early. It’s not going to hurt if the Wallabies try and run it back from their own ’22 in the 78th minute – they can’t afford to go for touch.
But it’s a game they Wallabies should never have lost (after their lead). It became a game the Wallabies would normally lose (when you consider the last three years). And it ended with Beale showing more nerve than anybody.
I can’t remember the last time the Wallabies winning made me so happy. Sydney 2008 was pretty awesome… but this is better. 2005-2007 were dark years.
Cliff (Bishkek) said | September 5th 2010 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Hi Cattledog,
Had problems with the internet and feed and did not see the first hal and some of the second half. Sat biting my fignernails with the Rugby Heaven – lice scores. It is a hell of a bloody shock to the heart pump when you see 31 to 6 to come back and see 31 to 30. S…t wwas trumps.
Anyhow – a good win and foe me not too sure on if deserved or not deserved. This still does not take way the problems with the team – as is seen with the losing of game when they should be won.
But I will takei t and hope that the CONFIDENCE comes back to allow the team some WELL NEEDED CONFIDENCE so they know THEY CAN WIN.
But there are still a lot of problems in the team and also with the coaching. I will tkae bakc my comments on Simmons not on the becnh – was told that he was carrying a slight injury veen before he repalced Higgers last week and still is. Mumm must be the luckiest rugby player on earth.
Also how did McCalman go?
TommyM said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
McCalman was sensational. He has got to be a genuine contender around the 8 spot from here on. Sadly for Browny- much as I love him, he’s a convertedopenside, not an 8. McCalman offers a lot more at 8 (though Brown at the tail end subbing on did made a great impact too).
Tim said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:15pm | Report comment
I agree TommyM,
Mcalman is a big unit and put in some good tackling work. He also showed superb hands at a restart to take a catch above his head, I think it was at the start of the 2nd half.
He also carted it up out in the backs at least once a’la Owen Finnegan and got over the advantage line.
Let’s see if he can string consistent performances together. He’s only 22yo which is promising.
jeznez said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Benny did well, didn’t look out of place at all. Tackled the house down and turned up to the breakdown, there was a forty minute period where none of the Wallabies thought rucking was important and that coincided with Brownie taking the pitch. Hope Higger’s back sorts itself out as B-Mac, Higger’s and Palu will all keep each other honest and start putting some serious pressure on Rocky
Cattledog said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
G’day Cliff. Posts above correctly reflect MaCalman. Frustrating when cable drops…know the feeling. Long way to go if we are to compete next week. Think the 3 games and trip back may be a factor. HOWEVER, there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel!
krash said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:47am | Report comment
I MUST disagree with you about Quade Cooper. saying that he missed tackles is just a lazy generalisation about his defensive ability. In all honesty, i think he’s had his best defensive displays in these last two games…particularly in this game.
agree with most of your other points though
TommyM said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
He just goes to high with his shoulder, which is a problem with big runners just off the line. The Wallabies defense DOES seem to have gone a little bit to poo. Why cant they engage a defensive coach?
kingplaymaker said | September 5th 2010 @ 6:47am | Report comment
‘When I see how well the Wallabies played early on, I wonder if maybe Robbie Deans is actually doing good things with the side’
I’ll quote you on that one! At least you seem to be one of the few who admits to giving poor Deans some credit.
Rockin Rod said | September 5th 2010 @ 7:25am | Report comment
Frank, Pocock will be bette than Richie is he continues to play the way hes playing. He is only 22.
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:42am | Report comment
First half playing a side that remained on the team bus for most of it – I couldn’t work out what had gone wrong with their defensive pattern at all. RSA was half asleep. Then they scored just before half time, fairly easily. Once again I didn’t see anyone from Australia with 15 on his back anywhere near Matfield and whoever he passed to (compared to Athlon in the 2nd half, moving away, turning, returning and tackling to cut off a potential threat).
At half time de Villiers must have stuck his fingers in his ears and poked out his tongue yelling “Blahhhh!”, or something, to assure them he is a complete lunatic and they all raced out on the field just to get away from him. Like a D12 remodelling the front paddock for a new carpark they just flattened the Wallabies for most of the 2nd half.
Then, for 60 seconds, I saw them use a couple of forwards “self tackling” one off the ruck ’til the clock ran down and commented then that it was a very bad plan. They beat themselves.
Australia looked utterly laughable for 38 and a half minutes – Beale getting hit on the scone with his hands nowhere near the ball was the crowning glory. The ref forgot the ball is supposed to go 5 at the lineout, too.
There was not a lot in that to get excited about.
Scotty said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:52am | Report comment
Except they won. Few teams to that in South Africa at altitude. A win is a win.
Cattledog said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:33am | Report comment
Hey Mick, good win to Eagles and their Colts I believe…got an email from a good mate of mine at the game!
Now, I’m a bit like you, HOWEVER, I think the first 30 minutes, like last week, and the last 30 seconds WAS a lot to get excited about. If we put last week and this week first halves together, we might be OK next week. Anyway, we should savour the moment without going overboard.
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
A fabulous promo for rugby in paradise at a packed Colleges ground, Cattledog; and a terrific tribute to the pie and raffle sellers and witches hat putter outers who toil so manfully to keep club rugby alive. There was a comprehensive 15 page program in Friday’s Bulletin, good things for the future, locally – gees they did a good job of it.
Everything from the coach’s 14 year old and his mate, armed with little air horns behind the posts, earnestly outlining to me their crafty plan to put the kickers off (gotta love ambitious young fellas); to a lower grades streaker to mark the Eagles first try. You had these young, winning players attempting their PhD in Sloshed cheek by jowl with 2 year olds and middle aged women and not a moment of bellicose.
At the end I was looking for an autograph of someone famous on my program. Someone honourable. Ref Travis (do you remember him?) obliged with “Keith Woods – Ireland No 2″ of course.
I watched the Test after enjoying that and after a Classic Wallabies featuring 1999 against the Bok – our team of journeymen and recovering crocks, with Horan out of position, one in, and renowned lineout soaring eagles Wellborn and Cockbain!? They had speed and skill on the edges (Roff and Tune) and not much else, playing a brick, concrete and steel wall, with not much else, in the old RSA manner. The outstanding feature was the steady confidence of these journeymen in themselves and in each other – each time Horan went forward and gave it their were two inside and three outside, who could catch.
If the Springboks contrived to score up the middle (as De Villiers last night) they had to first account to Wilson, Cockbain, then Prince George, Horan, Herbert, Grey or Burke – a 10, 12, 13 and 15 who could tackle as well as do other stuff.
Of course I fervently wish for a dominant period for the Wallabies, and a win gets recorded as just that. I do not want the mad talent belted out of these youngsters by discipline for the sake of it. Something like Matthew Burke scoring and simply turning to return to his position and get on with the job, without showing the world his mind is more on perfecting his latest heroic salute for Facebook, would do. Then I’d be assured the base is being better built for the next week and the one after.
Mind how you go up there, Cattledog – they do first class belligerent where you are camped right now.
Cattledog said | September 5th 2010 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
Nice bloke Travis…trust he had a good game. Sounds as if it had a bit of everything…and something for the ladies…lol. Young bloke and his mates thought $10 to get in was a bit rich…so stayed home. I remember when club players would get free entry!
Anyway, sounds like Eagles have a solid base for the future.
I would like to see Matt Taylor (Reds defensive coach) given an opportunity with the Wallabies. Did wonders for the Reds this year. I don’t think Jim Williams brings much to the table anymore and so should perhaps be let go. Anyway, something to build on but next week doesn’t get any easier.
I’m keeping the head down but the show must go on! Tawk again soon no doubt.
kingplaymaker said | September 5th 2010 @ 7:14am | Report comment
Mick I shall tell you my opinion.
The reason the Wallabies have been playing badly in second-halves is that their confidence has been shot from too many consecutive losses. That is why when they fear it could happen again they go to pieces.
So there is only one way to change that confidence: to win, whether by luck or persistence.
That’s why this win is so important, because it means they can start building confidence that they can win, and hence not fall apart in second halves.
Then they may be able to play as they did in the first half for the whole match. Even if the RSA defence wasn’t top notch, they still played very well in that half.
El Gamba said | September 5th 2010 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Also super important in comparison to the other option. Had Beale missed… to lose from 31 – 6 up…. I can tell you there would have been a new 22 and coach playing next weekend!
It’s a great win in that it should now buy some time for the group to work and the boys will be in no doubt how far they still need to improve, but also a taste of what it could be like…
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
I suspect there is substance in what you first say, kingplaymaker, and I agree with your conclusion. It’s a bit like grabbing at cigarette smoke right now but No 1 son assures me we are close.
I know that once the mindset is established, in a team context, then momentum simply, certainly follows.
Terry Kidd said | September 5th 2010 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Mick, Beale had made the previous tackle and was caught up in the ruck
jeznez said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Not wrong about that lineout. Geez that was lucky
GT75 said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:49am | Report comment
Are you kidding Mick. It’s been a lot better than what I’ve been watching for the last year. The Wallabies may have been making mistakes in the second half, but were awesome in the first. That is a improvement!!!!!!
Not to mention the Boks were awesome in the second half. Give the Wallabies some credit. I saw HEART!
FINALLY!
Frank O'Keeffe said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:51am | Report comment
Yeah give the Wallabies their dues, the first 30 minutes was the best rugby I’ve seen them play under Deans.
It was better than the rugby they played in Sydney in 2008.
It was better than the rugby they played against Wales last year.
The Wallabies were phenomenal. Like I said above, when the Wallabies do stuff like that it makes you think Deans is actually giving them the tools, they’re just not always using them.
When you look at how well they played, and how easy they capitulated in that second half, they surely averted their most disheartening loss.
Tortion said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:57am | Report comment
Best rugby I’ve seen since 2001.
Nick_KIA said | September 5th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
You should watch more games not involving the wallabies.
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Hee, hee, hee.
A bit true, Nick_KIA. You’ve gott to love hyperbole – amazing, awesome.
I heard Greg Clarke assert last night that Habana is playing poorly ‘cos it must be weighing heavily on his mind, the fact that he is about to become RSA’s leading try scorer. Clarke, fair dinkum, said that!
Tortion said | September 5th 2010 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
I really meant most entertaining game I have since played by Australia that I have seen since 2001. Perhaps that is a little clearer.
Cattledog said | September 5th 2010 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
I really meant most entertaining game I have since played by Australia that I have seen since 2001. Perhaps that is a little clearer.
Aaaaaah? No! lol
bennalong said | September 5th 2010 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Give him a go GT, look how far he’s come in just 3 pars. An understanding cattledog does wonders it seems.
Frank O'Keeffe said | September 5th 2010 @ 3:57am | Report comment
You know what the best aspect of the Wallabies game was?
The Boks were putting in these long raking clearing kicks – AMAZING KICKS. And the Wallabies kept throwing the ball back and counter-attacking. It’s what we want from a player like Beale – to duplicate the counter-attacking the Wallabies did this year.
Especially pleasing to me was how fast other players ran back to counter-attack. It wasn’t just Beale, Mitchell and O’Connor. It was also Cooper and Ashley-Cooper, running back and giving numbers to the counter-attack.
When O’Connor made a break, Elsom was there in support. When O’Connor ran down the wing, he looked inside for his support. It’s simple and something all teams should do, but how many times have the Wallabies not converted breaks into points. Look at Giteau’s amazing break in Melbourne in the first 10 minutes. Australia should have scored off that.
Great sides make something of their line-breaks. They find players in support. It’s the difference between a ruck and seven points… it’s a huge difference.
It was the Wallabies playing the rugby in that first half… beautiful entertaining rugby. As I reflect on how good it was it makes me wonder what a loss would have done to the side? There’d be everlasting psychological scars.
El Gamba said | September 5th 2010 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Ashley-Cooper had a big game.
RedsNut said | September 5th 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
He’d have even better games if he passed the f…..g ball.
He dummies to pass to the wing, then turned inside and isolated himself, which resulted in a turnover. How many times did anyone see that he passed the thing?
Justin said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
I know what you mean Reds – I would also like to see Mitchell cut back inside. They had him covered most times but he continues to just sit on the touchine. I he gets it he gets tackled into touch, hence no pass from 2 Dads.
GT75 said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:06am | Report comment
Well said Frank!! They made me happy to I’m still trying to sleep.
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Tim. said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:09am | Report comment
I stopped watching with 10 to go and went to the gym .Couldn’t face more dissapointment.
Happy we won but it is still bittersweet.
El Gamba said | September 5th 2010 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Bittersweet because you realised you walked off to sharpen the steak-knives and didn’t get to use them?
Tim said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
I was furious with rage with 10 to go and after Saia got sin-binned I finally had enough. I told the missus I was officially not supportring the Wallabies anymore and stormed off to the gym (the game was on during the afternoon in London).
It is bittersweet, as throwing away a 31-6 lead (given recent history) is not really a victory in my books. It is bittersweet because the same traits that were there last week were still there this week and it is those traits that pissed me off last week and will piss me off in future.
serious brain explosions still occurr :
- Sharpie letting Matfield stroll past him at the ruck to then chip and chase?. WTF was that about?
- Quade kicking it out on the full from a restart
- Saia not striking for the ball to concede a tight head.
- Saia getting sin-binned for grossly stupid spear tackle.
- Beales pass over Giteaus head and out the back door to concede a 5m scrum.
- general panic and knock-ons in the 2nd half (Beale and Mitchell come to mind)
These are the traits that have me worried and tell me that nothing has really changed from last week except we got lucky.
On the positive, the rugby we played in the first half was incredible. Deans has his stamp all over that and must be congratulated in that regard.
El Gamba said | September 5th 2010 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
So are you in or out as a Wallabies supporter?
Tim said | September 5th 2010 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
In…just.
Howi said | September 5th 2010 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
I know how you feel. Sitting up at that hour with the flu I thought, why am I putting myself through this again. But I stayed. Didn’t go to bed fully satisfied because we almost let an even bigger one get away. But the memory of Kurtley steaming that ball through the posts is one that will stay with me for years.
Sammy G said | September 5th 2010 @ 4:20am | Report comment
Hey Kiwi All Black supporter here.
Stayed up to watch the game. Actually had my head in my hands with 5mins to go as I was feeling so sorry for the Wallabies who were going to go down once again, as they *almost* completely capitulated like my team ‘The Highlanders’ do on regular occurance in the Super 15.
But I took delight in watching a Hot and cold Beale kick that last goal to take it out.
He must of felt almost pure redemption sweep over him after that shocking pass to Cooper at the their goal line and taking that falcon.
I believe James O’Conner will be one of the Key players for the Wallabies in the next few years, He has great pace, runs great lines, fends and tackles well and the fact he can kick goals is an added bonus. (he is a kiwi after all)
Pocock was a legend and Drew Mitchell was dangerous.
I thought Rocky Elsom has become a much better captain, speaking to his charges alot more than earlier, directing traffic and making decisions. An example when the tide had completely turned in the Bok’s favour and the Wallabies had to take a defend a scrum right on the Boks 5 metre line, The Wallabies team looked exhausted and down but Elsom persisted in yelling encouraging words to his men and slapping them on the back.
The Blueprint is there for a complete team and with a bit of finetuning they could be dangerous team at the RWC next year.
They will need to aqcuire the mentality to play 80 minutes of rugby not 40 and also gain a lot more self confidence.
Even though certain people think otherwise, Robbie Deans is the man to get you there. His record has not been outstanding since he took over the reigns but you have to remember he has not had the best foundations to work with, as the Wallabies have not been the strongest over the last few years.
Good luck and I look forward to the last Tri Nations match next weekend, should be a doozy